Recruiting: 2016

[a3uge]

So in light of the news and still with at least 2 scholarship spots left (if everyone stays and we get Carter) what does this mean for recruiting? We need to be moving on transfers/international players soon but without a head coach we're kinda stuck. Makes me frustrated that some of these spots weren't already filled.

Can't assume Carter is coming back - that would be 3 scholarships... If Peters leaves 4 and if Bradford decommits 5! So last year we lost a recruit because we didn't keep a slot open, and this year we plan for 3? Was he recruiting players with the intent that he'd be out the door at the end of the year? Maybe he picked up a few "recruiting" tricks from his brother Scott...

[covufan]

So in light of the news and still with at least 2 scholarship spots left (if everyone stays and we get Carter) what does this mean for recruiting? We need to be moving on transfers/international players soon but without a head coach we're kinda stuck. Makes me frustrated that some of these spots weren't already filled.

Can't assume Carter is coming back - that would be 3 scholarships... If Peters leaves 4 and if Bradford decommits 5! So last year we lost a recruit because we didn't keep a slot open, and this year we plan for 3? Was he recruiting players with the intent that he'd be out the door at the end of the year? Maybe he picked up a few "recruiting" tricks from his brother Scott...

I'm sure that all of the coaches have been recruiting hard the whole time.  It appears that Valpo does not make offers lightly.  Some schools will have 15-20 offers, we tend to keep ours more close hold.  I believe that we make an offer once the player has visited campus and worked out with the assistant coaches and other players, getting feedback from everyone before an offer is made.  I'm sure we have several feelers out there, and the assistants that are still on the VU payroll are actively contacting all recruits, getting feedback and providing what they know at that given time. 

I have faith in ml and the process he has used to get new coaches.  I'm also sure that ml and the AD staff are evaluating recent events (Nagy getting $500K, other coaching changes, the amount Bryce (and Powell) are getting at Vandy, other changes in HL MBB) to evaluate the monetary needs of the coaching staff to remain competitive in the HL. 

Oren has shared some discussions with ml on twitter:

https://twitter.com/NWIOren

Yes, we all would like the next phase to begin as quickly as possible.  I'm sure ml and the staff are making sure we get the right choice in there in a timely manner.

[VULB#62]

[tweet]718092659424935936[/tweet]

I like the fact that people are contacting ML about the job.  Doesn't make his job easier, but it sweetens the candidate pot and we might even hit a homer on a guy we never considered.

[valpo64]

Have faith, folks!

[vu72]

Barry Bradford (Micah's dad) tweeted that Zach Hollywood (Micah's teammate) had received his release from James Madison.  Zach is 6'9".  Coming to Valpo??

[atkins]

Barry Bradford (Micah's dad) tweeted that Zach Hollywood (Micah's teammate) had received his release from James Madison.  Zach is 6'9".  Coming to Valpo??

God I hope so!!!!  I have not seen him play, but if he is 6'9" and strong, we can use him. 

[VU2014]

Micah Bradford's other star teammate Zach Hollywood just officially got his release from his commitment from James Madison after they fired their HC Matt Brady. Maybe a possible addition to the roster? He's a 6'9 SF. With an outside shot. According to verbal commits he had only one other offer from Youngstwon State. His Dad played for Youngstown State and they have 3 open scholarships. (don't want him to go there). We have 3 open scholarships and he could come over to play with hi teammate Micah. (side note: Anyone see Paul Oren's tweet last week about a mystery Spanish big man that might come to Valpo? Anyone hear anything? This was before Bryce left, so who knows where that stands but Gore is the coach who works with the big men the most so maybe they have a connection)

https://twitter.com/ExampleSports3/status/718150096282587137

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/715724541172035584

Hollywood is unranked by Scouts, Rivals, and ESPN. But Futures150 ranked him 3 stars (breaks down his strengths/weakness: https://future150.com/hs/basketball-profiles/zach-hollywood-sf-bourbonnais-il-2016 ). He made CSN Chicago's Top 50 players to watch for http://www.csnchicago.com/preps/top-50-high-school-basketball-players-watch-illinois .

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2360352/zach-hollywood
http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/zach-hollywood/xp9vEilSEeS00gAmVebEWg/videos.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWuCs83lsxc

http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/zach-hollywood

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/718186117175123968

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/718186117175123968

[oklahomamick]

We have had a lot of success recruiting international guys.  Look at the record leaders at VU and most are from abroad.  Loved the Youtube video someone posted regarding our international guys.

Who was responsible for this?  When I was student we had more guys from S. America than Europe.  But there have been years we had more Europeans. 

Is the new coach still going to have that connection? 

[ValpoDad89]

Mick, I think the fact Lottich played overseas for years professionally will keep those pipe lines open. Plus  let's take this into consideration, we as Valpo, have been connected for years on the international scene. We have developed players who can either take the next level or educate to where they can succeed here or back in their home country. I've found overseas guys care about basketball development but also academic as well. Valpo, for how small we may be, offers these kids that.

[covufan]

We have had a lot of success recruiting international guys.  Look at the record leaders at VU and most are from abroad.  Loved the Youtube video someone posted regarding our international guys.

Who was responsible for this?  When I was student we had more guys from S. America than Europe.  But there have been years we had more Europeans. 

Is the new coach still going to have that connection?

Can you remind me of the S. Americans?

[humbleopinion]

Stalin Ortiz and I would guess he's thinking of Ali Berdiel.

[Valpower]

Stalin Ortiz and I would guess he's thinking of Ali Berdiel.

Or Roberto Nieves, who was from Puerto Rico, like Ali.

[crusader05]

Micah's dad retweeted a picture of him with Coach Lottich and Coach Gore. Looks like they were there today. Good to see.

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/barrybradford3/status/718548765074804736

[valpo64]

Keep up the good work!  Anxious to see who fills out next year's roster

[valpotx]

Come on mystery dude from Spain!  Maybe it is another player from the Gran Canaria school that produced KVW and Hammink?

[VU2014]

Went looking deep into the internet to find Spanish big men at the Canarias Basketball Academy. Found three players:
-Ivan Aurrecoechea Age: 20 Height: 6'7 Listed as a F/C http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Ivan-Aurrecoechea/Spain/Canarias-Basketball-Academy/314919
-Marinus N'Guessan Age: 18 Height: 6'11 Listed as a C http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Marinus-NGuessan/Spain/Canarias-Basketball-Academy/367588
-Shengzhe Li Age: 17 Height: 6'10 Listed as a C http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Shengzhe-Li/Spain/Canarias-Basketball-Academy/386486

Valpotx: I think you're on to a good idea there that its a Canarias player because they gave an offer to Jordan Blount who was a Canarias product who signed with UIC a couple months ago. So they are clearly still recruiting here. Also a little bummed Blount decided to sign with UIC over us. He's going to be a good player.

http://www.maxpreps.com/news/wmJrb0XYckavllm7VfVrTQ/meet-canarias-basketball-academy--the-team-that-traveled-nearly-10,000-miles-to-play-in-a-tournament-this-week.htm

"With seven players on the roster over 6-foot-6 — including a 7-foot Bosnian and a 6-10 hulk from China — the team passes the eye test in a big way."
"Ivan Aurrecoechea, a 6-7 forward from Madrid, Spain, who knows how to operate around the bucket."
"Dimitrije Nikola, a 6-10 forward Serbia."
"Li Shengzhe, a 6-10, 255-pound specimen from China. He's a work in progress but looks the part in a big way and is fairly mobile for his size and age."
Project sound familiar?.... Vashil (not saying he'll be the defensive product Vashil was but a project)
http://hoopreview.net/index.php/component/k2/item/297-report-on-2015-the-big-one-tournament/297-report-on-2015-the-big-one-tournament

[VU2014]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hz8SEJC0eI

[valpotx]

Let's get the Chinese guy!  We haven't had an Asian basketball player yet, correct?  Unlike in Soccer, I don't count Australia as Asia .  It seems like this place is Spain's equivalent of the AIS.

[a3uge]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hz8SEJC0eI

I'm not sure what I just watched...

[FWalum]

I'm not sure what I just watched...

From the reaction I would say it was a one time one move miracle. 

[valpo64]

Have any new names surfaced for possible recruits for  next season?   Hazen, etc.?

[valpo84]

For the Latin American discussion, let us not forget the short, but magical career of Tony Falu!